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Opening Read: 'Rachel Maddow Republican'

By Dylan Byers

01/06/12 08:16 AM EST

A single tweet from Jon Huntsman's senior finance director has become a talking point at the conservative Weekly Standard.

Last night, the Standard posted a speculative item with the headline, "Is Jon Huntsman a Rachel Maddow Republican?" —- a reference to finance director Ann Herberger's tweet stating that MSNBC's Rachel Maddow was her "new hero" because she "loves and believes in Jon Huntsman."

"This might not kill Huntsman in New Hampshire, where Democrats and independents often participate in the Republican primary," the Standard's Stephen Hayes wrote, "but it probably won't help him in South Carolina or Florida."

I've noted some Huntsman love at msnbc before, but the emphasis on this latest moniker may be a bit misplaced. In the last week, Maddow has mentioned in passing that "the best New Hampshire candidate might be a Jon Huntsman" — hardly a ringing endorsement — and her commentary on caucus night mostly referred to the fact that he wasn't running in Iowa. There's no clear indication I see that she's come out swinging on his behalf.

I've reached out to Maddow to see how she feels about Huntsman's new title, and where she identifies with him on the issues. Updates here — if and when I hear back.

But one item of note: The conservative establishment does seem to be divided over whether Huntsman is the most liberal or most conservative candidate in the running.